Islington News; Lillian Ladele | Town Hall | Gay Marriages

Publications by New Journal Enterprises

Home

Archive

Competition

Islington Tribune - by TOM FOOT
Published: 30 January 2009

Round three in Christian registrar saga

THE religious group bankrolling Christian wedding registrar Lillian Ladele in a landmark discrimination case has accused the Town Hall of establishing a gay rights charter.
Ms Ladele was disciplined and threatened with the sack after she refused to “wed” gay couples in Islington Town Hall. The 43-year-old registrar from Skinner Street, Finsbury, won an initial employment tribunal ruling of religious discrimination – but Islington Council successfully appealed.
The Christian Institute, which supports her, is now taking the case to a third hearing at the Court of Appeal. On the back of the victory in December, the council launched a sexual orientation equalities scheme further protecting the rights of gay staff with a legally binding code of conduct.
It states the council will always require its employees to act in a non-discriminatory manner towards gays when discharging their duties.
Mike Judge, spokesman for the Christian Institute, said: “Announcing a gold-plated charter for gay rights when a Dignity For All policy already exists could be seen by some to be establishing a hierarchy of rights, with sexual orientation at the summit.
“The last census shows that a majority of Islington residents identify themselves as Christian. Will Islington be producing a charter of religious rights?”
Ms Ladele’s lawyers had argued she should be exempt from officiating at civil partnership ceremonies in Islington Town Hall because of her religious belief that gay couples were “sinners”.
The council argued that she had been disciplined and threatened with the sack for not doing her job properly, not for her religious belief. The argument was upheld by Judge Patrick Elias at an Employment Appeal Tribunal in December.
Mr Judge said: “Islington Council admits it has been able to deliver a ‘first-class’ civil partnership service to homosexual couples without Miss Ladele’s involvement. No homosexual couple has been denied access to council services because of Miss Ladele’s religious beliefs, but they disciplined her anyway.”
The case is expected to reach the Court of Appeal after Ms Ladele’s lawyers lodged papers with the court earlier this month.
Liberal Democrat councillor Ruth Polling, Town Hall equalities chief, said: “It’s important to us that Islington Council stays at the forefront of ensuring equal treatment for gay people.
“We were overjoyed to win the landmark registrar case, and we are making it crystal clear that we expect all council employees to provide services to all people, regardless of who they are.”
This week, it was announced that the council is one of gay rights group Stonewall’s Top 100 Employers for 2009, one of only two London boroughs to make the top 100.

Comment on this article.
(You must supply your full name and email address for your comment to be published)

Name:

Email:

Comment: